Osamu's Box of Talismans

Osamu picked the talisman off the floor and placed it gently on Yurei’s forehead, just above the right eye. It stayed there like it always did, just covering Yurei’s eye; he didn’t seem bothered by it; in fact, Yurei looked happy as he always had. The talisman had kanji written on one side and English on the other side, although Osamu didn’t bother reading the English, as the box in his bag had plenty of other talismans.

The talismans all looked the same, tea-stained colour, with hand-painted kanji. Apart from the one on Yurei’s head, all of them were in pristine condition. The box of talismans was a gift from Yurei’s parents alongside the instructions of “Keep the talisman on his forehead”. For what felt like a lifetime, Osamu had helped his friend keep the talisman on his forehead, as best as he could anyway.

“Hey, are you ready to go now?” Asked Yurei, his smile as bright as it always was. He had always been happy as long as Osamu could remember.

“Of course, let's head to work,” Osamu replied, bracing himself for yet another day of talisman watch.

Both of them worked at the same store, mainly so that Osamu could ensure that the talisman wouldn’t fall off, but also because Yurei was Osamu's only real friend, so regardless of the promise he made to Yurei’s parents, he intended to stay with him till he no longer could.

The work day was normal as always, the talisman didn’t fall off, and neither did Osumu’s attention. When they went home, they’d both make dinner together; it was mainly always ramen, as they both enjoyed sitting around the table and slurping on the noodles at the same time. It was always the small things that made Osamu smile. Yurei was always smiling, so there was no difference there.

It was 6 pm, and the house was warm, painted in the warm glow of the orange lights on the ceiling. The used bowls, cups and cutlery were left in the sink. Yurei looked at Osamu, a smile on his face, but there looked to be some sort of question on his mind.

“Why do you always help me? He asked, his face still happy, almost as if he didn’t really mind what the answer was.

Osamu thought for a second and then answered.

“Well, you were always there for me, so it feels right for me to be there for you.” This answer came naturally for Osamu, but the smile that was glued on Yurei’s face didn’t seem to shift, even the slightest.

“Why do you ask?” Osamu enquires, wondering if this is a chance for him to help Yurei.

“I only asked because whenever my talisman falls off, you’re always the one to put it back on me”, he replies.

Osamu pauses for a minute, thinking of telling his friend why he helps him with his talisman, but eventually decides not to.

“I’ll always be here for you, man, in happiness, sadness or anger, I’ll be here,” Osamu says, hoping to reassure Yurei that no matter what may happen, he’ll be there for them.

A smile gleams across Yurei’s face, one that Osamu has seen many times before.

“Thanks! I’ll get some rest, don’t stay up too late,” he said as he stood up and went into his bedroom.

With Yurei, going to sleep, it was just Osamu and the box of talismans that he had always carried with him, since that fateful day. What these talismans did, what they were for Osamu, he had no idea, but he didn’t want to question Yurei’s parents nor open the box, in case that would change how he saw Yurei.

“Life's perfect the way it is right now,” Osamu said to himself, before calling it a night. He tucked himself into bed, leaving the box of talismans on his bedside, ready to grab in the morning.

The sun grazed through the gap between Osamu’s curtain, of course, landing directly on his eyelids and with the glaring of his alarm, it didn’t take too long for Osamu to get up. He sprawled out of bed, got dressed, and grabbed the box of talismans that he always took with him.

Osamu placed the box of talismans on the table while he began to prepare breakfast for both of them. This time it was going to be chicken donburi, a common rice bowl meal that Yurei’s family used to eat all the time. He called out to Yurei just as the breakfast was going to be ready. The only unusual thing was that Yurei was normally awake by now.

Maybe I should check on him, Osamu thought to himself while finishing dishing out the breakfast. Before he could, Yurei jumped out of his bedroom, showcasing that wonderful smile he always had on.

“Good morning to you, too!” Osamu exclaimed while a smile began to show on his face.

“You're smiling!” Yurei teased, pointing at the smile that was beginning to take over his friend's face.

“You cheeky…anyway, breakfast is ready!” Osamu retaliated; he didn’t mind the occasional teasing, anything to keep Yurei happy after all.

The pair sat down and enjoyed their homemade breakfast between laughter and conversation. Both were obviously enjoying their time together, and much could be said for each and every day the two spent together.

After they had both finished their breakfast, they once again left the bowls, cutlery and cups inside the sink and headed to work. As the two are walking down the pathway on their way to work, Yurei reaches his hand up and strokes his talisman that lies on his forehead.

It had been there for as long as he could remember, but he never seemed to know what it was for; in fact, none of them did.

Yurei looks towards Usmau, who’s walking beside him and asks.

“What is the meaning of this talisman?”

Osamu looks at him, only to be met with the same smile that he was always met with. As Osamu tried to find the words to explain the scenario, he remembered what Yurei’s parents said that day.

Answering instead with something that wasn’t entirely true, but wasn’t entirely a lie either, Osamu said.

“I’m not too sure, you’ve worn it for as long as I can remember, I’ve always helped you put it back on, as you seem rather attached to it.” Osamu tries to force a smile to hide the subtle lie in hopes of not discouraging his friend.

“I see…” Yurei replies, pondering as to why he could be so attached to a piece of paper that he had only seen in his reflection.

Out of the corner of Yurei’s eye, something catches his attention in the bag that Osamu carried with him wherever he goes. Without hesitation and before Osamu could stop him, he reached for the wooden box, the same box that had been given to him by Yurei’s parents.

“Hey…Osamu, what’s in this box?”

A conflicted expression takes hold of Osamu, of both responsibility and the longing to protect his friend. 

For what lies in this box was only known to Osamu as talismans.